Cinematographic taking or reproducing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A reproducing apparatus for a striplike information carrier member drive means which is adapted to transport the carrier member alternatively in forward and reversed transporting direction. Metering means have an operating condition and a resting condition, in operating condition metering alternatively forwards and backwards according to the transporting direction. Connecting means are adapted to connect the drive means with the metering means to bring the latter in operating condition. Means are controlled by the metering means upon reaching a metering value to be predetermined and which comprise stop means adapted to stop the drive means.

United States Patent Drahonovsky [451 Jan. 25, 1972 [54] CINEMATOGRAPHICTAKING OR REPRODUCING APPARATUS [72] Inventor:

[73] Assignees: Karl Vockenhuber; Raimund' Hauser,

Vienna, Austria 221 Filed: Sept. 25, 1969 21 Appl.No.: 860,984

Michael Drahonovsky, Vienna, Austria [30] Foreign Application PriorityData Sept. 27, 1968 Austria ..A 9472/68 [52] U.S. Cl ..242/188, 242/205,352/174 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 59/38,G1lb l/52,Gl lb 15/06 [58] Field ofSearch "242/541, 188, 206-210;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,561,602 7/l95l Valentinoet al ..242/201 X Scott. ..242/208 X 3,032,285 5/1962 Brede ..242/2083,167,264 [/1965 Ohtsu ..242/20l Primary Examiner-Leonard D. ChristianAttorneyErnest G. Montague [57] ABSTRACT A reproducing apparatus for astriplike information carrier member drive means which is adapted totransport the carrier member alternatively in forward and reversedtransporting direction. Metering means have an operating condition and aresting condition, in operating condition metering alternativelyforwards and backwards according to the transporting direction.Connecting means are adapted to connect the drive means with themetering means to bring the latter in operating condition. Means arecontrolled by the metering means upon reaching a metering value to bepredetermined and which comprise stop means adapted to stop the drivemeans.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN25|972 sum 10F 3 FIG/lsic-531.162. SHEET 20? 3 PATENTED JAMES 1972 FIG? WENIED JANZS i972SHEET NF 3 CINEMATOGRAPIIIC TAKING OR REPRODUClNG APPARATUS Theinvention relates to a cinematographic taking or reproducing apparatusprovided with a metering device or the like, connectable with a striptransporting mechanism and me tering forwards and backwards according tothe transporting direction, which metering device controls functions ofthe apparatus upon reaching a predetermined position.

At lectures accompanied by film, especially at school, it happens veryoften that the lecturer, e.g., the teacher wishes to show an especiallyinteresting scene for a second time or more. After termination of suchan interesting passage, the lecturer has to find out the beginning ofthe passage by rewinding the film, which is rather troublesome andtime-wasting and in certain cases cannot be done at all during the lapseof time being at disposal, so that often a repetition is waived.

' Since repetitio mater studiorum est, this disadvantage is especiallytroublesome at school.

By the invention this disadvantage is eliminated and it becomes possibleto repeat an interesting passage to your liking, whereby the beginningof the passage is found out automatically in a simple and reliable way.This succeeds according to the invention, in that the metering device orthe like is adapted to be switched on, when the apparatus operates inone of the two possible transporting directions of the strip drive andcontrols mechanical and/or electric switching means in the drive of theapparatus, which interrupt said drive upon reaching a predeterminedposition of the metering device or the like and/or preferably reversethe transporting direction of the strip. When it is spoken in thisconnection of a metering device, an arrangement should be understood asknown for meters, but which need not necessarily be combined with figuredials or the like, as it is usual with traditional meters. The lecturerhas merely to switch on the inventive metering device during forwardoperation of the apparatus at the beginning of the passage to berepeated, and to switch on reverse run at the end of the passage. Thestrip carrying the information will then run back only to the beginningof the passage marked. This procedure may be optionally repeated.

Not always it will be possible to a lecturer, in particular to ateacher, to prepare his lecture or the like, that he knows the film byheart and every scene of it. In such cases a certain reaction time hasto be taken into consideration lasting from the very beginning of thepassage till to the decision to repeat it. It may also be useful torepeat the beginning of a passage in connection with the end of theforegoing scene. According to an advanced development of the invention,this is possible in that a delay member is provided between the meteringdevice and the switching device by means of which switching off orreversing of the apparatus takes place. after a certain time, which incases may be set after having reached the initial position of themetering device or the like. By this arrangement it is possible torewind scenes at any desired length without further manipulations.

When using the apparatus for instance for propaganda purposes, it isdesirable that after rewind operation the apparatus is immediately readyfor renewed forward operation. It is only required therefor to engagethe coupling for said metering device after runoff of the leader of thefilm or strip, so that at reverse run the leader is no more rewound onthe supply reel and upon renewed setting in operation, no threadingprocedure takes place. In order to meet all these modes of application,it is necessary that the metering device is able to accumulate theentire possible lengths of film or strip respectively. With the requiredlarge reduction gear ratio and the inavoidable drive tolerances, in caseconsiderable divergences may happen in finding a certain passage of thefilm or strip.

In order now to improve the precision of the metering means, themetering device shows two spools or the like, on which a tape is coiledup, the one end of which being fastened to the first spool and the otherone being fastened to the second spool, whereby the first spool isadapted to be coupled and driven by means of a cutoff coupling with orby respectively the strip transporting mechanism, in particular thetakeup reel, which is driven by said drive mechanism, while the secondspool is under the action of a spring or the like, which strives to windup the tape on the spool, whereby the switching means are controllableby the tape wound up on said spool. As with respect to the determinationof the tape length there exists a high degree of freedom, it is possibleto adapt the precision of the metering means to the actual demands inconsideration of the maximum film or strip lengths given. The tape maybe provided with at least one conductive foil and may be guided overcooperating contacts fixed to the equipment. In an advanced embodimentof the invention a switch is provided in the circuit of the cooperatingcontacts, which is connected with the coupling and opens the circuit,when the coupling is in its disconnecting position.

In another embodiment of the invention however, it is also possible toprovide the tape with notches, holes or the like, which cooperate withthe corresponding switching means. It is advantageous to design theseswitching means likewise an electric switching means, which may besensing means abutting the tape border, or pairs of contacts, which areelectrically isolated by the tape passing between them and which releasean impulse, when there passesa hole or a notch. According to a furtherembodiment of the invention the tape may be a magnetic tape, as alreadyknown, opposite of which lie soundheads for the reproduction and in casealso for the recording or erasing of control signals. In such anarrangement it is possible to release different control signals by themetering device and to operate therewith different functions of theprojector. Suitably, the tape bears marks, in particular numeralsvisible through a window of the apparatus orreproduced on a screen.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following specification of embodiments schematicallyillustrated in the drawings in which FIG. I shows the inventionarrangement in lateral view,

FIG. 2 represents a cross section taken along the lines IlII of FIG. 1in magnified illustration,

FIG. 3 shows a detail taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 5 and 6 display sections taken along the lines V-V and VI-VI,respectively of FIG. 4,

FIG. 7 shows the view of a further embodiment of the inventive meteringdevice, whereby for the sake of a clear illustration, the casing coverof the apparatus has been removed,

FIGS. 8 and 9 display sections along the planes VIII-VIII and IX-IX ofFIG. 7.

On an axis 1 there is arranged a takeup reel 2, which is driven by afriction roller 3 at its circumference. The takeup reel 2 shows notches4 for the engagement with a clutch coupling 5 (see FIG. 2) which isfastened on a shaft 6 which is coaxial to the axis 1. The shaft 6 isalso provided with a pinion 7 that drives an intermediate gearwheel 8.This intermediate gearwheel is pivotally supported by a bellcrank 9 andmates in coupled position 8 with a cup-shaped gearwheel 10 (see FIG. 1).Inside this cup-shaped gearwheel there is arranged a planet pinion 11,which mates with two coaxial gearwheels l2, 13 with different teethnumbers (see FIG. 2). One of the gearwheels is for instance providedwith teeth, the other one only with 99. Of the two gearwheels 12, 13,the gearwheel I2 is braked by a brake 14, so that it usually standsstill. Thereby the movement of the planet pinion II is transmitted tothe gearwheel 13. With the mentioned relation of teeth numbers, thereresults a transmission ratio of 1:100. To the gearwheel 13 there isconnected a cup-shaped scale disk 15, the graduation 16 of which isvisible through a window I7 (see FIG. 1) in a cover 18 of the casing(see FIG. 2).

The periphery of the scale disk 15 shows a clearance 19 in one place. Inanother place of the periphery of the scale disk 15 there is arranged anextension 20 provided with a slope (see FIGS. 1, 4). The exact positionof this slope is illustrated in FIG. 5, in which forthe sake of clearunderstanding, the scale disk I5 is indicated in dash-dotted lines,though it cannot be visible due to the course of the cross section. Asit further results from FIGS. 4, 5, the oblique extension 20 of thescale disk 15 cooperates with an oblique surface 21 of a key 22. The key22 however shows a second oblique surface 23 situated in another plane(see FIGS. 2, 4, 6) by which the bellcrank 9 is operated. A sheet spring24 (see FIG. 1) constantly presses the key 22 outwards through thecasing cover 18.

Operating the key 22 during forward run against the force of a spring24, the scale disk 15 is slightly deviated in counterclockwise sense, inthat the oblique surface 21 slips off from the extension 20. As thescale disk 15 is coupled with the braked gearwheel 12 by means of thegearwheel 13 and the planet pinion 11, the gearwheel 12 is driven bythis movement of the scale disk 15 overcoming the brake pressure of thebrake 14.

Simultaneously with the deviation of the scale disk 15, the bellcrank 9is deviated in clockwise sense by the oblique surface 23 of the key 22.On the bellcrank 9 there are fastened two contact bridges 25, 26bridging two contacts 27, 28 in both end positions of the bellcrank 9.The bellcrank 9 further shows a resilient claw 29 at its end avertedfrom the key 22. Upon deviation of the bellcrank 9 by means of theoblique surface 23 of the key 22 against the force of a spring 30 andwhile simultaneously also the scale disk 15 is deviated, the claw 29strikes the full circumference of the cup-shaped scale disk 15. Theclearance 19 of the scale disk, originally lying opposite the claw 29,was drawn out of the deviation range of the claw by the deviatingmovement of the scale disk. When the claw 29 strikes the cup-shapedscale disk 15, the claw will flex and finally latch behind thecircumference of the scale disk 15. Thereby the intermediate gearwheel 8mates with the gearwheel and drives the scale disk in dependence on therotation of the takeup reel 2. This drive connection is so long in forceuntil the interesting film scene is terminated, whereupon the lecturerswitches on reverse run by means of a switch 31 (see FIG. 1). Then aself-locking relay A closes two contacts a,, a Simultaneously a reversecoupling 33 is switched on by means of a solenoid 32. The scale disk 15,which during forward run always turned in clockwise sense, changes itsdirection of rotation upon reverse run. The reverse run lasts so longuntil the clearance 19 in the scale disk 15 reaches the claw 29,whereupon this is disconnected by a spring 30. Thereby the intermediatewheel 8 is uncoupled. By this rotating motion of the bellcrank 9, thecircuit containing the contacts 27, 28, which was closed by the contactbridge 26 during reverse run, is now interrupted for a short moment thatis sufficient for the relay to release and open the two contacts a,, aThe solenoid 32 is then deenergized and the coupling 33 is opened.Consequently reverse run is interrupted.

In that the scale disk 15 is deviated by operating the key 22 by meansof its oblique surface 21 and the extension 20, reverse run is notexactly interrupted at the sequence of images passing on the screen,when the key 22 is operated, but a certain number of images earlier. Inthat way it is taken into consideration that a certain reaction timewill go by until the lecturer will have decided to repeat a scene. Inthe same way also the end of the foregoing scene may be repeated. It istherefore useful to arrange the extension movably on the scale disk 15,so as to provide for different requirements.

It will be advisable to design the metering device 10, 11, I2, 13, 15thus, that winding up ofa whole film length of thin film material ontothe takeup reel 2 will correspond to one rotation of the scale disk 15of maximum 360, preferably less. If desired the metering device may thenbe used for the whole film, whereby the scale 16 passing along a fixedmark in the scale window 17 gives the lecturer any required informationabout the runoff of the film.

Of course the inventive reproducing apparatus need not implicitly bedesigned in the illustrated manner. It is also possible to provide meansinstead of the bellcrank 9 and the claw 29 cooperating with theclearance 19, whereby for instance the clearance 19 may be replaced by astop, which releases the coupling of the metering device upon butting arespective control member. It would also be possible that such stopsbecome effective by means of the key 22 on optionally different placesof the scale disk 15 or the like. Further it will be advantageous toswitch automatically on forward run immediately after termination ofrewind by providing for instance further contact bridges on thebellcrank 9 or the like operating relative switching contacts.

In the FIGS. 7 to 9 another metering device is illustrated, wherebyelements of the same function have the same reference numerals as in theFIGS. 1 to 6. The lever 38 bearing the intermediate gearwheel 107 ispivotally arranged round an axis 37 and bears a key. An extension 110 ofthe lever 38 cooperates with a sheet spring 111, which is bent like aroof and which enables the latching of the lever 38, as well in itsoperating position illustrated in FIG. 7 in full lines, as also in itsrest position illustrated in dash-dotted lines. On the shaft 112 of theintermediate gearwheel 107 a further pinion 113 is pivotally arranged.Between the intermediate gearwheel 107 and the pinion 113 there isarranged a torque overload clutch 114, 115 (see FIG. 8), which is loadedby a spring 116, propping to the pinion 113 on the one hand and to ascrewed nut 117 on the other hand. On the lever 38 a second gearwheel118 is further pivotally arranged, which on the one hand mates with thepinion 113 and on the other hand may be forced into engagement with astationary gearwheel 119 by deviating the lever 38 to its operatingposition, said gearwheel 119 being fixed to a spool 120 for a tape 121.One end of the tape 121 is fixed to the spool 120, while the other endof the tape 121 is fastened to a spool 122 (see FIG. 7). The spool 122is connected with a spiral spring 125 by means of a transmission gear123, 124, which spiral spring 125 strives to drive the spool 122 inclockwise sense. The tape 121 is guided by the spool 122 over a guideroller 126 and a stationary pair of contacts 127, 128 as well and runsover a further guide roller 129 to the spool 120.

The mode of operation of this arrangement is essentially as follows:When the lever 38 is deviated in clockwise sense from its rest position,indicated in FIG. 7 in dash-dotted lines, to its operating position,indicated in full lines, the gearwheels 107 and 118 mesh with thecorresponding gearwheels 106 and 119, respectively. Consequently thefilm reel 2 drives the tape spool 120 by means of the clutch 114, 115and the intermediate gear. Since the film reel 2 turns in clockwisesense, the tape spool is driven in counterclockwise sense. The tape 121is now wound up on the spool 120, whereby a conductive foil 130,provided on the tape 121 lying opposite the two stationary contacts 127,128 in their initial position and establishing the conductive connectionbetween the contacts 127, 128, is withdrawn from the contacts, wherebythe conductive connection is interrupted. Simultaneously the spool 122is deviated in counterclockwise sense, whereby the spiral spring 125 isstrained. When after runoff of the interesting scene, the quick rewindis switched on, the film reel 2 turns in counterclockwise sense. Thetape spool 120 is then distorted in clockwise sense by means of theintermediate gear, whereby the tape 121 is uncoiled and wound up on thesupply spool 122 driven by the spring 125 until finally the conductivefoil 130 comes to lie opposite the stationary contacts 127, 128 andtherewith closes the contact. Switching means 131, schematicallyindicated in the circuit of these contacts, cause an interruption of theprojector drive (in FIG. 7 an electromagnetic coupling 132 controllableby said switching means 131 is indicated for example). The torqueoverload clutch provided between the gearwheels 8 and 113 limits thetension of the tape 121 and prevents damages thereof.

By deviating the lever 38 in counterclockwise sense, it is put in itsrest position. In this position the drive connection between the filmreel 2 and the tape spool 120 is interrupted. By means of the spring 125the tape is completely wound up on the spool 122. Even when a large tapelength is wound up on the spool 122, the tape is rewound with highvelocity by the spring 125. In order to avoid damages at the tape endupon arresting the tape, it is useful to connect one of the tape spoolsor one of the guide rollers, respectively with a brake, e.g., anairbrake, which limits the rewind velocity.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the tape 121 may beprovided with visible marks or numerals 133, which may be read throughthe window of the casing cover 101. Instead of the conductive foil 130also other methods may be applied in order to release switchingimpulses. For instance, the tape may show notches and may be scanned bysensing means, which release the switching signal; moreover it ispossible to scan the tape photoelectrically or to design the tape as amagnetic tape, as it is known per se, and to record the switchingsignals by a magnetic soundhead 134 and to receive them again by thesame. The last-mentioned method is especially advantageous, when anumber of different signals have to be recorded on the tape.

Within the scope of the invention it is also possible to mount the twotape spools exchangeably on the apparatus. The spools 120, 122 forinstance may be arranged in a cartridge 135, which is insertable in thecasing cover 101. By this measure it is possible to feed a particularprogram to the apparatus, when a certain film is shown, which may bedesirable when the film projector is used in a teaching machine forinstance with a linear program.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cinematographic reproducing apparatus for a striplikeinformation carrier member drive means adapted to transport said carriermember alternatively in forward and reversed transportingdirection,metering means having an operating condition and a resting condition, inoperating condition metering alternatively forwards and backwardsaccording to the transporting direction, said metering means comprisingfirst and second spool means, tape means to be wound up on said spoolmeans and having two ends, one of which being fastened on said firstspool means, the other end being fastened on said second spool means,coupling means adapted to connect said drive means with said first spoolmeans and having a connecting position and a disconnecting position, inconnecting position said coupling means effecting an unwinding motion ofsaid first spool means, biasing means adapted to impart rotation inunwinding direction to said second spool means, means being controlledby said tape means upon reaching a metering value to be predeterminedand comprising stop means adapted to stop said drive means.

2. In a cinematographic apparatus according to claim I, wherein saiddrive means comprise takeup reel means for said carrier member, saidcoupling means being adapted to connect said takeup reel means with saidfirst spool means.

3. In a cinematographic reproducing apparatus according to claim I,wherein said tape means comprise at least one conductive foil means,said means being controlled by said tape means comprising two contactmeans, said contact means being positioned to be electrically connectedby said conductive foil means.

4. In a cinematographic reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, saidmeans being controlled by said tape means further comprising electriccircuit means including said contact means, switch means within saidelectric circuit means, said switch means being connected with saidcoupling means, in disconnecting position of said coupling means saidswitch means being opened.

5. In a cinematographic reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said tape means have opening means, said means being controlledby said tape means comprising switch means adapted to cooperate withsaid opening means.

6. In a cinematographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidtape means are magnetic tape means, said means being controlled by saidtape means comprising magnetic head means.

7. In a cinematographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidtape means have visible mark means.

8. In a cinematographic reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said metering means further comprise torque overload meanswithin the drive for said first spool means, said torque overload meanslimiting the tension of said tape means.

9. In a cinematographic apparatus according to claim I, wherein saidfirst and second spool means are removable from said apparatus.

10. In a cinematographic reproducing apparatus according to claim 9,wherein said spool means are arranged within cartridge means.

1. In a cinematographic reproducing apparatus for a striplikeinformation carrier member drive means adapted to transport said carriermember alternatively in forward and reversed transporting direction,metering means having an operating condition and a resting condition, inoperating condition metering alternatively forwards and backwardsaccording to the transporting direction, said metering means comprisingfirst and second spool means, tape means to be wound up on said spoolmeans and having two ends, one of which being fastened on said firstspool means, the other end being fastened on said second spool means,coupling means adapted to connect said drive means with said first spoolmeans and having a connecting position and a disconnecting position, inconnecting position said coupling means effecting an unwinding motion ofsaid first spool means, biasing means adapted to impart rotation inunwinding direction to said second spool means, means being controlledby said tape means upon reaching a metering value to be predeterminedand comprising stop means adapted to stop said drive means.
 2. In acinematographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive meanscomprise takeup reel means for said carrier member, said coupling meansbeing adapted to connect said takeup reel means with said first spoolmeans.
 3. In a cinematographic reproducing apparatus according to claim1, wherein said tape means comprise at least one conductive foil means,said means being controlled by said tape means comprising two contactmeans, said contact means being positioned to be electrically connectedby said conductive foil means.
 4. In a cinematographic reproducingapparatus according to claim 3, said means being controlled by said tapemeans further comprising electric circuit means including said contactmeans, switch means within said electric circuit means, said switchmeans being connected with said coupling means, in disconnectingposition of said coupling means said switch means being opened.
 5. In acinematographic reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidtape means have opening means, said means being controlled by said tapemeans comprising switch means adapted to cooperate with said openingmeans.
 6. In a cinematographic apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid tape means are magnetic tape means, said means being controlled bysaid tape means comprising magnetic head means.
 7. In a cinematographicapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tape means have visiblemark means.
 8. In a cinematographic reproducing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said metering means further comprise torque overloadmeans within the drive for said first spool means, said torque overloadmeans limiting the tension of said tape means.
 9. In a cinematographicapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second spoolmeans are removable from said apparatus.
 10. In a cinematographicreproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said spool means arearranged within cartridge means.